The Senior B Miners lacrosse team is on its way to the playoffs.
Friday marked the team’s last game – a 12-12 tie with the Edmonton Warriors – before the semifinals.
Assistant coach Todd Lorenz stated afterwards he wasn’t happy with the final score.
“By no stretch of imagination, every one of our players are disappointed with the loss today because they know that when we turn the switch on, nobody can beat us.”
Lorenz wished the team had worked harder. Having so many wins under the team’s belt, he felt players entered the game with the wrong mentality.
“[The Warriors] were hungrier. We’ve locked up first place, and they’re battling for that third, fourth playoff position, so they were just hungrier. They came out harder, with more intensity than we did,” he said.
“As much as we try to raise ourselves to the next level, when you already know you’re in the playoffs, when you already know you’re in first place, it’s mentally tough. So we just have to work on the focus part of it."
Miner Graedon Cornfield notched four goals in the game. He felt the team had made a few mistakes that cost them the win, especially some penalties that allowed the Warriors to score several power-play goals.
The two teams fought for the lead the entire game. The first period started at 2-2, and after some penalties on both sides, they sat at 3-3 in the second period.
By the start of the third period the Miners had inched slightly ahead with an 11-8 lead. The lead didn’t last long, however, as the Warriors quickly caught up and went ahead 12-10.
Leading up to the end of the last period the two teams were tied 12-12, sending them into overtime. Lorenz said the team struggled throughout the game.
“On offence we started tightening our sticks up and forcing our shots. Instead of just shooting, we were trying and hoping to score, and it didn’t quite work out as well. Defensively we started to chase loose balls and attack them, the [Warriors] just outran us.”
Cornfield said the Warriors were a tough assignment.
“We’ve always known that the Warriors are a good team, and they’re a really good challenge,” he said. “Going to games with the Warriors we expect them to be close like that, so we prepared for that. The biggest thing is to just keep playing your game and working hard.”
The tie hasn’t put a damper on the team’s spirit, however. Lorenz said losing has humbled the group, which could be exactly what the team needs heading into the playoffs.
“Now the sleeping bear has been awoken. Had we rolled through this game unscathed, then our attitude might be different. Now we’re sitting back going, ‘OK, we won the two national championships because we were the hardest-working team on the floor. We have to get back to that tradition of working hard, outworking teams, being gritty, and we’ll be fine.'
“In a way, from a coaching perspective, it’s not a bad thing. We kind of woke our boys up to say, 'Let’s get our act together.”
At 16 wins, the Miners enter the semifinals with the most wins in the senior B division. In total the team has 33 points, with the Calgary Knights in second with 26 points.
The first semifinal will be against the Warriors today at 8 p.m. at Servus Place.
